Earlier this week, we had the pleasure of welcoming Nengi Nelson, an independent photographer and visual storyteller, to G.A.S. Lagos for her residency. Based in Lagos, Nengi’s practice spans photography and moving image and is deeply rooted in themes of identity, choice, vulnerability, and social acceptance. She approaches her work as a means of introspection, using visual storytelling to question notions of “being” beyond societal norms particularly within African contexts.

In March 2025, Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation, in partnership with the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.), announced the call for the pilot edition of the Ìmòra Arts Intensive, an initiative designed to support the professional development of emerging local artists. Taking its name from the Yoruba words Ìmòra (support, guidance, mentorship) and ìmò ẹkọ (acquisition of knowledge or skill-building), the programme offers early-career visual fine artists based in Lagos a unique opportunity to gain practical knowledge, expand their networks, and refine their approach to professional practice.

The open call for its pilot edition received over 100 applications. A dedicated selection panel comprising five art professionals carefully reviewed each submission and were impressed by the breadth of talent and the quality of artistic practices presented. The selected 2025 cohort are Amadi Chukwuemeka,  Anaghoba Oluchi, Apah Benson, Bello Oladele, Emore Yoma, Jolaolu Moyosore, Nwafor Chidimma, Okwudini Noah, Lawal Ololade, and Lawal Oyewole.

The Ìmòra Arts Intensive falls under the wider scope of Project Nexus, an ambitious residency and education programme designed to nurture and empower artists, art educators, art historians, and curators through a series of residencies, professional development workshops, and educational initiatives over three years. The project embodies the spirit of collaboration and cultural exchange that lies at the heart of both Foundations’ missions, aiming to encourage and cultivate artistic excellence and curatorial innovation. 

The Ìmòra Arts Intensive is made possible through the generous support of Deutsche Bank. 

In March 2025, Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation, in partnership with the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.), announced the pilot edition of the Ìmòra Arts Intensive, an initiative designed to support the professional development of emerging local artists. Taking its name from the Yoruba words Ìmòra (support, guidance, mentorship) and ìmò ẹkọ (acquisition of knowledge or skill-building), the programme offers early-career visual fine artists based in Lagos a unique opportunity to gain practical knowledge, expand their networks, and refine their approach to professional practice.

Across residencies ranging from four to six weeks, Rachel Anyo, Gaia Ozwyn, Aisha Olamide Seriki, and Joy Labinjo immersed themselves in Lagos and beyond, activating research, fieldwork, studio visits, and community dialogue as vital parts of their creative process. Their time culminated in public programs—from workshops and critique salons to artist conversations—that offered insight into evolving intersections between contemporary art, cultural heritage, and collaborative pedagogy. Collectively, their residencies marked a rich period of inquiry and exchange within the G.A.S. ecosystem, supported by Artis, the RCA BLK network, and Tiwani Contemporary.

On the morning of Thursday, 24 April 2025, Gasworks hosted a guided tour for patrons of Y.S.F. to mark the opening of throwers, the first UK solo exhibition by Nolan Oswald Dennis, a Johannesburg-based artist and G.A.S. Foundation Alumnus. The event began with opening remarks by Gasworks Director Robert Leckie, followed by an introduction to Dennis’ practice led by Gasworks Curator Rosa Tyhurst in conversation with the artist.